By Nate Van Wagnen

Buck learned the ropes of the engine building business from the late Sonny Leonard , whose Sonny ’ s Racing Engines shop built engines for Pro Stock and Pro Mod icon “ Tricky ” Rickie Smith . That led to an opportunity to work with Smith on his in-house engine program . In 1993 , Buck made his dream a reality and launched Buck Racing Engines .

Over the last 31 years , Buck and his team built engines for a wide-ranging customer base that expanded beyond traditional drag racing . Within drag racing , his customers included racers in PDRA Pro Nitrous and other various Pro Modified groups , Top Sportsman and Top Dragster , bracket racing , and more . Most recently , customers competing in Street Outlaws : No Prep Kings put Buck Racing Engines in front of a massive international audience .

“ Forty-one years ago , a smalltown kid left Hillsville , Virginia , to go work for Sonny ’ s Racing Engines ,” Buck began in his Facebook post announcing his retirement . “ While there I met Rickie Smith and did work on his race engines . Five years later , I moved to King , North Carolina , employed by Rickie . He believed in me and took a huge chance to have an in-house engine program . Several world championships later , I would call it a success !

“ This puts us to 1993 . The dream I had to own my very own race engine shop , and Buck Racing Engines , was born ,” Buck continued . “ During the past 31 years , nitrous oxide engines have made us famous . The ‘ Big Buck ,’ what was the last huge accomplishment , designing my own head and engine , was a dream come true . But we have so many other accomplishments and other areas that we have won championships in : bracket racing , boat racing , asphalt & dirt circle track , truck pulling , mud drags , and so many street engines .

“ During the time at BRE we ’ ve had so many wonderful employees , including my brother Tim

Buck , and without him BRE would ’ ve not been possible ,” Buck added .

“ We ’ ve had so many wonderful and faithful customers that I am thankful for – many I consider my friend to this day . With so many accomplished racers and car owners , we have been fortunate to have so many wins and championships over the past three decades .

After 31 years of hard work and dedication I ’ ve decided to hang up the grinder and retire ,” Buck concluded .

Buck ’ s machine shop is available for sale . According to Buck ’ s post , the turn-key machine shop is available immediately , including the property , building , and equipment , not the business name . The equipment is available as a complete package to pre-qualified buyers . DI

PHOTOGRAPHS BY TARA BOWKER

38 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated . com Issue 190